diagnosed with lymphoma

[Amethyst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratface I have to be realistic. This is a financial planning and retirement forumn. It's too early for these types of decisions to be made but they must be contemplated. The farmhouse might need to be sold at some future point. In six months if I can get a clear pet scan I think Rich is right, we re-evaluate from there.

Being on the roller-coaster from Hell as you are right now, I would be planning and scheming too. Thinking of Plans A, B, C....Z is a way to retain a measure of control over one's fate. "If the worst happens, at least I'll have thought it through!" Feel free to share your worries, plans, and hopes whenever you're strong enough. We WILL be checking back at the 6-month point

[freebird5825]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratface ...I have to be realistic. This is a financial planning and retirement forumn. It's too early for these types of decisions to be made but they must be contemplated. The farmhouse might need to be sold at some future point. In six months if I can get a clear pet scan I think Rich is right, we re-evaluate from there.

Please try as hard as you can to keep that in the "realistic" domain and out of the "pessimistic" domain. Only you can control your mental state.

You are still in the treatment phase. Suriving cancer is a reality for a lot of people these days. Focus on that fact as best as you can.

[Jay_Gatsby]

Late to this thread, but I took the time to read through all 10 pages to make sure I didn't miss anything. Ratface, I am sincerely sorry that you have been diagnosed and you have my best wishes for a complete recovery. If it is of any help, I came across the following website when researching my father's colon cancer. This is a link to the squamous board:

Online Squamous Cell Cancer Forum: Resources & Information Page # 1 sorted by date.

[ratface]

I hadn't found that one yet. I frequent the OCF one and the ACS sites and added yours to my list , thks.

[ratface]

Well I got two weeks of Radiation moon beams being shot at my head. They are calibrating the machine today so I'm off the hook for treatment today. Same game plan as last week. Head out to the farmhouse with the family. My 20 y/o son goes back to college on 22 August so I plan to use him before he goes to put a skylight in. No rain is predicted so thats the game plan. I have been walking a little crooked lately, DW has to keep pulling me over into a straight line when we take our walks. And no I have not been on the sauce!Plan is not to get to close to the edge of the roof. Very low roof. As far as treatment I have one small mouth sore which is a result of the cisplatin (chemo) and fatigue a couple hours a day. All quite manageble to date. I hear week 3 is where the rubber meets the road? Second dose of chemo administered. Well at least it's platinum being shot through my veins, what does platinum go for these days?

[Rambler]

Keep hanging in there Ratface, we're all rooting for you! And make sure to keep posting.

Enjoy your weekend buddy!

R

[W2R]

Ratface, one small mouth sore, a couple of hours a day of fatigue, and a little crooked walking? You are tough, that's all I can say, because I know this isn't easy. Sounds like you are handling it pretty well. I will be hoping that next week isn't as bad as you have heard.

Glad you have today off. You can get some R&R to help you to head into week three with the same determination that got you though weeks one and two.

[freebird5825]

Um...may I respectfully suggest some of the equipment described in this article? See page 2 especially for low roof situations. You may be able to rent this equipment.
How to Properly Use a Roof Safety Harness | Roofing | Reader's Digest
I have minor balance problems myself (nothing serious) and the last place you'll find me is on a roof.
Keep us posted about your progress with treatment.

[mews]

Yah, watch it on the roof! would be a shame - treatment working, oooops!!! splat.

'snif...

ta,
mew

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratface Well I got two weeks of Radiation moon beams being shot at my head. They are calibrating the machine today so I'm off the hook for treatment today. Same game plan as last week. Head out to the farmhouse with the family. My 20 y/o son goes back to college on 22 August so I plan to use him before he goes to put a skylight in. No rain is predicted so thats the game plan. I have been walking a little crooked lately, DW has to keep pulling me over into a straight line when we take our walks. And no I have not been on the sauce!Plan is not to get to close to the edge of the roof. Very low roof. As far as treatment I have one small mouth sore which is a result of the cisplatin (chemo) and fatigue a couple hours a day. All quite manageble to date. I hear week 3 is where the rubber meets the road? Second dose of chemo administered. Well at least it's platinum being shot through my veins, what does platinum go for these days?

Have a good weekend at the farmhouse and let the 20y/o so do all the roof work--they're good at things like that!

[Alan]

Have a good weekend ratface, hope the weather cooperates.

[Amethyst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratface As far as treatment I have one small mouth sore which is a result of the cisplatin (chemo) and fatigue a couple hours a day. All quite manageble to date. I hear week 3 is where the rubber meets the road? Second dose of chemo administered. Well at least it's platinum being shot through my veins, what does platinum go for these days?

I found this at a site that talks about side effects of chemo, cisplatin in particular:

"Mouth, throat, and esophagus sores are temporary. They usually develop 5 to 14 days after receiving chemotherapy. Stomatitis gradually reverses itself within 2 to 3 weeks and will heal completely once chemotherapy is finished."

Sounds like you're right on track for getting the sore, so hopefully, the sores will also go away on schedule.

And, here is an important tip from the same site:

The importance of keeping records about your cancer treatment
Because of the delayed risk linked to several types of chemotherapy, it's best to keep a list of all the types of cancer treatments you received, along with dates and doses. You will need to copy this list to share with any doctors you see in the future. Although doctors and hospitals may keep copies of these records for a limited time, finding them can become a problem when records are archived or destroyed after a certain retention period. This retention period (length of time the records are kept) varies from state to state and practice to practice. Records may also disappear when a doctor retires, or if the clinic or doctor's office moves or closes.
Make sure you collect the following information during treatment, and always keep copies for yourself:

• a copy of your pathology report from any biopsy or surgery
• if you had surgery, a copy of your operative report
• if you were hospitalized, a copy of the discharge summary that the doctor must prepare when a patient is sent home from the hospital
• a list of your drugs, their doses, and when you took them
• a summary of any radiation treatments that you were given

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst The importance of keeping records about your cancer treatment Make sure you collect the following information during treatment, and always keep copies for yourself: a copy of your pathology report from any biopsy or surgery if you had surgery, a copy of your operative report if you were hospitalized, a copy of the discharge summary that the doctor must prepare when a patient is sent home from the hospital a list of your drugs, their doses, and when you took them a summary of any radiation treatments that you were given

I couldn't agree more. Many cancer programs provide each patient with a binder for this purpose. Think of it as your cancer portfolio, and mind your assets!

[ratface]

Those are all very good documents to keep. I have my own binder labeled for Doctor info, tests done, MRI, pet scan, insurance stuff, work notes. No one will give you anything unless you ask for it. Some will copy it immediately and some have to get the doctors permission and your hat size. Does anyone know if you have a right to sit and read your own chart in a doctors office? I think I would like to do that.

Skylight is in and just as it started to rain. never did one before, looks pretty good, hope it dosen't leak. Obviously I stayed on the roof.

Tomorrow-------week three!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Google has a confidential utility for tracking your health information. I access it at google/com/health - I think you need a google account.

There are places for tests, treatments, and much more. Plus you can get to it from any computer on the web, share it, get some links.

[freebird5825]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratface ...Does anyone know if you have a right to sit and read your own chart in a doctors office? I think I would like to do that. Skylight is in and just as it started to rain. never did one before, looks pretty good, hope it dosen't leak. Obviously I stayed on the roof. Tomorrow-------week three!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See #6 here
U.S. Patients' Bill of Rights - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carry a copy of this around with you.

Glad to hear you're back at ground level again.

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Does anyone know if you have a right to sit and read your own chart in a doctors office? I think I would like to do that.

Generally speaking a patient has a right to receive any and all information recorded about their health care. However, my understanding is that the provider owns the physical records they generate. Practically speaking the patient may request and the provider is obliged to provide accurate and complete copies of the record. A reasonable administrative fee is allowable, for copying, mailing, etc.

As to sitting down and reading the original records in the office, I would not permit that in my practice for fear that someone not of good taith would alter, delete, or add to it to further a possible malpractice litigation or other secondary agenda. I guess you could assign someone to monitor them, but that's really a stretch.

Patients request their records for lots of reasons, and I've never had any problem sending copies.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa As to sitting down and reading the original records in the office, I would not permit that in my practice for fear that someone not of good taith would alter, delete, or add to it to further a possible malpractice litigation or other secondary agenda. I guess you could assign someone to monitor them, but that's really a stretch.

After I've been escorted to the waiting room and I hear the file dropped in the little wall holder by the door, I prop open the door, pull up a chair, and start browsing.

It's either plenty of time for good reading, or someone comes by pretty quickly to finish the appointment.

[shoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords After I've been escorted to the waiting room and I hear the file dropped in the little wall holder by the door, I prop open the door, pull up a chair, and start browsing. It's either plenty of time for good reading, or someone comes by pretty quickly to finish the appointment.

Nords if they ever catch you doing that you could be labeled a "difficult" patient....just like Elaine and Uncle Leo.

[Sue J]

I switched pediatricians once and asked for a copy of my son's records. He said he'd do it, but what I got was not a copy of the records, it was a one page summary saying that my son had been a patient, and that his vaccinations were up to date. No details at all.

I had already seen the new pediatrician and on the first exam he noticed things that the first doctor should have noticed. I wanted a copy of the records to see if the first pediatrician had noted these things. He knew I had switched doctors already and wouldn't give me any detailed info.

I was very glad I switched doctors, the new pediatrician was great and the first one was nasty.